The Japanese maple story continues..The trunk bend

[bodhidharma]

The story continues..After foregoing the Aerial layering and being more than intrigued, i set about doing the trunk bend this arvo. the photo's tell the story and i have to say i enjoyed myself thoroughly. The trunk benders are huge and i turned until i heard the first creak. I will give it one turn per week until i am satisfied with the flow. After Pups post i again shortened the leader and it is looking a bit squat at the moment but that will change with a bit more refined height. All in all i am happy with how it came together. I took a progression so other people wanting to do the same can follow the photos easily. I am very happy i did not go ahead with the layering idea and i thank Aus Bonsai people for their expertise and advice.

P.S It would be easier if two people tackled this project. The rubber needs to be really tight and that was difficult by myself

[Amanda]

I've really enjoyed this, must have been quite the task. How far did you drill into the trunk?

[bodhidharma]

I've really enjoyed this, must have been quite the task. How far did you drill into the trunk?

G'day Anja, actually i drilled right through the trunk where i wanted the trunk to give. It shouldnt bother it they were only1mm holes. They should heal no problems.

[Jamie]

gday bodhi

nice work, i am amazed that only a few 1mm holes has releived the tree so much! i would of been packing it expecting the drill bit to snap of in the trunk. i probably would of gone a 3mm bit but now knowing that a 1mm bit will work is great. i think the trunk looks much better now i look forward to seeing the tree once all the bracing is of, i know what you mean how hard the bike tube is to wrap around by yaself tightly especially when you have to start a new strip!


jamie

[alpineart]

Hi Bodhi ,nice bend if i say so myself .I have contemplated doing this type of adjustment ,but with my luck i would break the bugger in half .I have a couple of chop tops , over the next couple of months i will try to "Adjust" the bases and movement .Thanks for posting this method , i'm sure to try it .Cheers Alpine

[Mitchell]

Great work there mate! I got to get me one of those benders... Awesome!!

[Glenda]

Bohdi, how thick was the trunk of the maple you bent?

Glenda

Edit: Just read the other thread - so ignore the above!

[Amanda]

Thanks Bodhi. Did you drill right through, all the way around the trunk? or only those few we can see in the photo? I've never attempted this, trying to get my head around the actual weakening angle to gain the most give and I keep coming to the conclusion I need sleep

[kcpoole]

Nice Bodhi

I have a Japanese Red Maple of my own I need to bend a Big branch on

Been waiting for it to go dormant but it still has new leaves and Growth on it!! I was planning in drilling out the Centre of the branch to do it(i can get to the end of the section) but i think I will try this idea of cross drilling it too.

Ken

[bodhidharma]

Thanks Bodhi. Did you drill right through, all the way around the trunk? or only those few we can see in the photo? I've never attempted this, trying to get my head around the actual weakening angle to gain the most give and I keep coming to the conclusion I need sleep

G'day Anja, in all honesty i have not seen this done before but it seems to have worked really well. I used to be in the building trade and for me it is logical that if you drill holes in a piece of timber and jump on it, it will break at that spot. So following on from that conclusion all i had to do was support it enough not to snap but to give. I drilled 10 holes in all, about 3-5 mm apart next to each other where i wanted the tree to give. they are in a line down the trunk ,not around. right where the benders arm is. That actually took a bit of working out. I am ecstatic how well it has worked.

[Pup]

Bohdi.
Necessity is the inventor of solutions. I like what you have done, now we wait for the healing process.

Cheers Pup

[Bretts]

Nice work Bodi
I think leong shows this technique in this video but on a pine.
http://www.bonsaisouth.com.au/cms3/inde ... &Itemid=75

[kcpoole]

Nice work Bodi
I think leong shows this technique in this video but on a pine.
http://www.bonsaisouth.com.au/cms3/inde ... &Itemid=75

Nice Vid Bretts
Will have to remeber that one later. It has given me a few Ideas

Ken

[bodhidharma]

That was awesome.. Thanks Brett. The dude has got some great implements to work with . I am jealous. I dont think i would do as much to the tree in one hit as he has done.Do you reckon it pulled through?

[kcpoole]

Hi Bodhi
a question I have been asking myself lately re making large bends on trees

Should we try "dry them out somewhat" before hand to reduce the moisture in the tree?

I have heard that if possible reduce the amount of water in the tree ( without killing it first), by reducing watering over a few days before the operation. So the theory goes, this tends to make the process more successful by reducing the brittleness and minimizing the chance of breakage
Apparently this applies to any variety of tree too

Anyone else have ideas?


Ken